My daily deal for today is pretty far from the average travel technology deal, but since almost every traveler carries a camera phone, I’ll explain why I think it is still a great deal for you.
The T-Mobile Cameo digital photo frame launched last year, at $99 and a monthly service charge of $9.99, it was one of those gadgets that I would have wanted to purchase, but just could not get over the $10 fee every month.
Yesterday, T-Mobile dropped the price on the Cameo to $39.99 for the frame, and just $1.99 a month for the service.
So, what can you do with this photo frame? You can sent photos to it from anywhere in the world! The frame operates on the nationwide T-Mobile network, and constantly waits for new incoming photos.
You can send photos using MMS (picture messaging) or through email. Each frame comes with its own mobile number, and sending a photo to it is as simple as attaching the photo in an email, and sending it to the dedicated email address assigned to the frame.
This is of course absolutely perfect if you are traveling the world and want to send daily photos to a loved one back home, or if you have a family member who can’t seem to operate anything more complicated than a coffee maker.
The device does not require any user interaction to receive the photos, they just show up when you send them. Thankfully there are some settings that allow you to restrict who can email the device, so there is no need to be worried about the family prankster sending porn to the frame.
In addition to the wireless portion of the frame, you can still add photos by connecting it to your computer, or by adding an SD memory card. The frame has a display resolution of 720×480 and has a built in light sensor for adjusting the brightness.
The Cameo frame can only be purchased at a local T-Mobile retail store (corporate owned), and since the $1.99 fee is actually for a new line, you will have to pass the T-Mobile credit check.
The good news is that the Cameo service does not require an activation fee or a contract, so you are free to cancel it after just 60 days. I’ve been playing with mine for a few hours, and it really is a fun way to send and view photos.
You can make the deal even better if you purchase the Cameo along with the new T-Mobile Samsung Memoir camera phone – when purchased on the same receipt, you are eligible for a $40 mail in rebate.
If you want to read a quick review of the device, check out this article by our friend Darren Murph over at Engadget.